V drive question

[Hiramsaint]

on 32's in 1985 or 86 they switched to 1.5 to 1 velvet drive transmissions. All the 32's before(1970- 1984) that and most smaller M's have the 1 to 1 and run a 14 " prop. Both shaft sizes were used.

The 1.5 to1 run a 16" prop (1985- 1991) . A lot of 1:1 trans run the 1.25" shaft on the 32 model, not sure about a 28.
I believe I also looked at this boat about 7 years ago at Caney Creek marina on Watts Bar
Good luck M's rock !

I understand ratios but is there any benefits to one over the other. The reason for the question is: we are planning at least a half "loop" trip in the near future. I'm wanting to be able to do a slow cruise so we can soak up the experience and the sights, get decent fuel economy but be able to kick it up a notch if necessary ( storm, sickness, emergency, ETC.). I've heard dual engines are preferable but the only reason I've heard so far is for docking and redundancy. I believe for my purposes a single would be fine but either will work for me. I really have no cruiser experience so forgive my ignorance, I'm attempting to fix that. My only experience so far is with a number of smaller runabout's and a 34' Drifter houseboat we tooled around on Lake Allatoona with for 10 years--they were all outboards.

[Hiramsaint]

.." I'm looking at a 28' with dual 318's and 1:1 V-drives."

Vee drives? Don't recall ever seeing them in a 28 Marinette.

Jeff

I thought that's what the ad said but no worries, the ad is gone now as I suspected it would. It's okay, there's plenty more out there so the hunt can continue.

[Wilfred]

Confusion between V-drive and Velvet Drive

[Fastjeff]

Ahhhh!

Jeff

[Hiramsaint]

Yes...my ignorance is on full display. Is there a quick laymans explanation of the difference between the two?

[EWRice]

Sometimes the v drive gearbox is bolted directly to the transmission. Sometimes it is connected to the transmission (or engine in race applications) by a driveshaft.

[Hiramsaint]

So, am I correct in thinking that a velvet drive is more of a direct drive and a V-drive is a 180* reduction drive of sorts?

[EWRice]

Velvet drive is a division of borg warner. They make both conventional inline transmissions and v drives.

Both inline and v drives can be 1:1 ratio or any number of reduction ratios. Some v drives actually have an overdrive ratio.

[Hiramsaint]

Thanks for the help fellas. I'm still not quite getting but I will research so when I buy, I'll know what I'm buying.

[Rockit]

The only s that (to my knowledge anyway) came with v-drives are the houseboats (a/k/a "river cruisers"). With a V-drive the front of the engine faces the stern so the output shaft faces forward. The actual v-drive has an input shaft on top mated to the engine/transmission and the output is attached to the propeller shaft.

I tried to attach some images so you get the idea, but if you google "v-drive boat" you will see similar images.

The advantage to a v-drive is the engine can be placed farther aft though in most designs that isn't really an advantage. Inboard houseboats are usually v-drives as are some ski boats.

The s had velvet drive transmissions so someone may be confusing that with the v-drive.

I hope this is helpful.